Returning to '97, creating a new life

A blizzard swept across the city, bathed in the glow of the setting sun.

Sitting in the car, Yunshang watched the large snowflakes pounding against the window, then glanced back at Xu Kai, her eyes filled with a knowing excitement: "Do you predict a huge blizzard tonight?"

Xu Kai glanced at Yun Sheng, who was driving, and Zheng Wenwen, who was sitting in the passenger seat. He showed no fear in the face of the current situation, whether it was the oppressive feeling from Yun Sheng or the condescending scrutiny from Zheng Wenwen.

"Spend Christmas with you."

The corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up; even if Yunshang didn't believe it, she was happy to hear such words.

The car drove to a well-known Western restaurant in the city—Little Boy.

The Western restaurants that young people talk about are actually just money-grabbing restaurants somewhere between fast food and casual dining. Xu Kai doesn't believe Yun Sheng hasn't been to authentic Western restaurants in high-end hotels. He thinks this is a deliberate act of looking down on him while showing off his strength.

See this? It's an expensive Western restaurant. I'm taking you there. You've never been before, have you?

The so-called Western restaurants of that era were actually more like the later Pizza Hut. The difference was that Pizza Hut had a bright environment, catered to casual dining, and offered a wider variety of dishes. Unlike today, the environment was mainly dimly lit, with windows often covered to create a sense of mystery and present a sophisticated, bourgeois atmosphere.

[It's alright, at least they didn't openly display any sense of superiority.]

Yunshang, holding a thick menu, leaned close to Xu Kai and flipped through it: "What would you like to eat? I think the pasta here is delicious, would you like to try some?"

Zheng Wenwen was already ordering food with what she thought was a very elegant demeanor, barely glancing at the menu, acting as if she knew it very well.

It's really hard to feel any emotional fluctuation. That sense of superiority is more like a silent pantomime. You don't know, this thing is just fast food and simple meals. I don't even like to eat it. When I occasionally order takeout, I have to be picky.

"Boneless steak, medium-rare..." Xu Kai had just started to speak when Zheng Wenwen chimed in, "Filet mignon, medium-well..."

They exchanged a glance, and Zheng Wenwen said, "It tastes better when it's cooked to medium-rare."

Xu Kai gritted his teeth, suppressing a laugh and maintaining composure. He wouldn't press the button to bluff and embarrass himself; it wasn't that it wasn't worth it, but doing so would make him part of the foolish mess.

Yun Sheng looked over, and in that one glance, the two of them conveyed a great deal of information without even trying.

Xu Kai confirmed one thing: Yun Sheng and Zheng Wenwen were basically just playing around, dating but not talking about the future. Judging from her eyes, it seemed Yun Sheng liked that type. The information was quite clear from their expressions: in a proper restaurant, discussing steak doneness in China is extremely rare. Rare or medium-rare is considered too demanding, usually reserved for high-end Western restaurants. Most steaks are medium-well, medium-rare, or medium-well; well-done is almost never considered. At least these days, if you order a well-done steak, some people will think you're unsophisticated, and the actual taste won't be good either.

The terms "medium-rare" and "medium-well," especially the latter, have somehow come from somewhere, yet some people actually order steaks that way. In more reputable restaurants, the waiters won't correct you; either they're untrained staff or unqualified chefs, or they prioritize customer satisfaction and won't embarrass you by automatically serving you a medium-well steak.

Yun Sheng understood, but didn't tell her. It was obvious that the two were not on the same level in terms of knowledge. The only reason was that Zheng Wenwen was very proud and thought she knew a lot. Yun Sheng was too lazy to explain and was worried that it would embarrass or even anger her. This was not from her perspective. He was just too lazy to waste his time adjusting his state and finding a way that she could accept to slowly change her perception.

Yun Sheng also confirmed something. Xu Kai's subsequent demeanor further confirmed that he wasn't a country bumpkin, but rather someone who was nonchalant and genuinely uninterested in this so-called Western food.

One's family background is beyond one's control, and the hardships experienced in the early stages of life are irreversible. However, enriching one's knowledge and understanding is a testament to one's own efforts and growth. Zheng Wenwen, a junior from his university days whom he dated for several years, is probably the complete opposite of him. The former cares more about brand-name goods, high-end perfumes and cosmetics, while the latter cares more about the resources she should have. Their family backgrounds and upbringing did not provide the conditions for them to cross social classes. The difference lies in their choices to enrich themselves.

Yun Sheng didn't mind his female companion's behavior. As long as the two families had met before marriage was discussed, and the emotional and physical value of the women was evident, that was enough.

But looking at the little boy his sister brought, Yun Sheng was very concerned about this level of understanding. Instead of ordering any expensive-looking restaurant wines, he ordered a bottle of dry red wine produced in the province. It was not expensive, but it was made with real, high-quality ingredients.

Zheng Wenwen muttered a few words about why she ordered this. There was no English label, and the price wasn't expensive. It didn't look like anything good.

Actually?

Xu Kai doesn't really know much about wine. He only knows some brands and has tried several wines with different price ranges. He can distinguish the differences in taste, but he mainly focuses on personal preference. He doesn't have the ability to appreciate the so-called value of wines.

"It's a pity that the outside world doesn't really recognize our own products." Yun Sheng raised his wine glass to Xu Kai, treating him with adult social etiquette.

Xu Kai was stunned for a moment, and once again praised the upbringing of Yun Sheng and Yun Shang. Just the fact that they did not distinguish people based on their wealth or poverty already surpassed at least 80% of so-called privileged and powerful families.

"I don't really understand; to me, it's all about the value of alcohol."

Zheng Wenwen sneered, though she quickly concealed it, her eyes gleaming with even greater superiority. She pulled Yunshang aside and whispered, trying to please her future sister-in-law. As for Xu Kai, she had already made up her mind: now was the time. Once Yunshang got to university, there would be plenty of good guys out there, and this one would probably be forgotten long ago.

Yun Sheng smiled, a simple smile, devoid of any other emotion. Sometimes, authenticity is a very good channel for communication.

At the dinner table, eating became merely an act of filling one's stomach. Outside, a blizzard howled, and the world was shrouded in white. Large snowflakes danced in the night sky, making it impossible for anyone under the night sky to open their eyes properly. The cold wind kept many people indoors.

After they finished eating, they weren't in a hurry to leave. Zheng Wenwen pulled Yunshang aside and chatted about university, the world of girls their age, clothes, cosmetics...

Yunshang glanced at Xu Kai and was relieved to see that he and her brother were able to chat together. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been in the mood to talk about girly topics with Zheng Wenwen; it would have been too pretentious.

They could get along well and the conversation wouldn't go off-topic. Yun Sheng thought more highly of Xu Kai. The last time he learned about Xu Kai, he asked a family acquaintance to learn more about him through some connections.

He came from an ordinary working-class family, nothing much to know. If his father hadn't died early and his mother hadn't raised him alone, Xu Kai might have been just like countless other children from working-class families in heavy industrial cities in Northeast China—neither outstanding nor bad, attracted by the openness of the times and becoming rebellious and obsessed with all sorts of new things in the glamorous world from a young age.

Yun Sheng didn't deliberately adopt the conversational style of adults after starting work. He didn't engage in grand discussions, let alone talk about major domestic and international situations. He didn't even touch on topics related to people's livelihoods. He felt that would be a bit shameless, too obvious, and not in line with his personality.

Even if we take a step back and say that this is her first love in the true sense, and that her previous crushes were just fleeting interests, this time she was willing to bring Xu Kai to meet her. Even if it's just a blossoming flower bud in the prime of her youth, and she's going to taste the flavor of love, as her brother, I have an obligation to help maintain this beautiful relationship.

Furthermore, she simply doesn't want to see impulsive events occur due to an immature mind. In addition, even her parents don't mind their daughter having a period of innocent and naive feelings, as long as it's kept within limits. This piece of the puzzle in her growth experience is very necessary.

In Yun Sheng's opinion, aside from Xu Kai's young age, if it's just a small, beautiful moment during his youth, he's quite suitable for his younger sister.

For athletes who play basketball, this is definitely a top priority in the school's dating pool. They are specially admitted to a high school and may even get into a good university in the future because of this skill.

He's tall and fit, with regular features and clear, bright eyes. While not exceptionally handsome, he has strikingly beautiful eyes—bright, deep-set pupils that convey meaning clearly through his gaze. His skin is also excellent, radiant and free of blemishes or pimples. Good skin, for both men and women, creates a very positive impression up close, and clean, clear skin enhances one's overall image.

He's unassuming, doesn't have any illogical arguments, and behaves quite maturely.

Over the course of a meal, setting aside any deeper thoughts, Yun Sheng, as a young man, acknowledged Xu Kai's abilities. If his sister wanted to date at an appropriate age, and if she met a guy like this in college, he would even tell her, "You can enjoy your youth and your love to the fullest."

No need for long-term plans, no need to consider anything else, just enjoy yourself. This guy will definitely become the most wonderful part of your college life.

Pity.

You met a little too early.

If your younger sister is a junior in college and Xu Kai is a freshman, and she has had boyfriends in the first two years of college but didn't have a very pleasant experience and didn't taste the sweetness of love, then the arrival of this junior will definitely make your college life the most fulfilling one.

Yun Sheng was lost in thought.

Xu Kai, on the other hand, was somewhat disheartened. Even if it was just a brief taste, he had still gotten a taste. Being stopped when he wanted to launch an attack meant that at least he had launched an attack and reached the edge of the position.

What now?

With two big light bulbs here, the four of us traveling together, how innocent and pure! But I'm not some teenager in the prime of my youth. If I want to be innocent, it's when I'm alone with Yunshang, just chatting and joking around to satisfy my cravings. With you two here, what the hell can we do?

All of this is fine. I'll just consider it as me accompanying Yunshang through her youthful days, experiencing the simple beauty of being in love for the sake of the person on the other side, even if I don't like it or not.

The key question is what is most unbearable.

Damn it, Yun Sheng, you bastard, we played together until late, you took your sister home, and you also gentlemanly took me home.

and then?

You drive your girlfriend to the next game, acting like it's perfectly normal because you're an adult.

Xu Kai watched the departing Volkswagen Santana, raised his middle finger, and thought, "Damn it, I came back too early. Let me come back when I'm eighteen! I'm not afraid of starting late, I'm just afraid of a life full of 'vegetarian' stuff."